Schröder creating stability for Thunder

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

I miss the yellow spot. I do. Dennis Schröder said it’ll be back. The one thing that’s not leaving is his ability to attack defenses.

Dennis Schröder May not be the most efficient person on the floor, but this offense isn’t built around efficiency. Sure, it helps. However, this offensive system can survive most nights on bad shot attempts as long as the shots are in bunches and potentially at the rim. That allows people like Steven Adams to grab boards and go dominate opponents.

Schröder’s trade from Atlanta has solidified the Thunder’s backup point guard position for the first time since Reggie Jackson’s departure. Early fan voting is saying he is better than Jackson’s tenure. Only time will tell on that.

“Dennis is a very good teammate, good guy to talk to, good guy to figure things out with,” Paul George said. “I think our chemistry has grown again since we first connected when were in LA to work out with together. I thought we did a good job of understanding one of another. I think it will be fairly easily for us to get on the same page.”

What Schröder has done is created mismatches against second units. His ability to bob-and-weave throughout the opposing defense has created fits. Against the staters in the preseason, his percentages haven’t been great. They don’t have to be. They’re designed to create havoc. With the pick-n-roll or just a screen to create space and a mismatch on the screen.

Brett Dawson said it best: a second chance.

After the Hawks had a rough here, deciding to go all tank mode by letting people walk and trading the others. Schröder found himself the center of the offense of a team that had no real direction or pieces. Now, in Oklahoma City. He’s been given that direction and purpose.

He wasn’t just traded so Carmelo Anthony could leave Oklahoma City. He was brought in to be a playmaker at the reserve point guard spot. That’s no slight to Raymond Felton, who was quite adequate last season. It’s like the Thunder picked up a younger Felton.

“When I came into the gym, the team chemistry was amazing,” Schröder said. “It was like a big family.”

Schröder isn’t going to score 20 a game for the Thunder. He’s going to create help and rest for Russell Westbrook. He’s going to create stability in the second team.

Schröder’s gold spot is going to return. So is the threat of a solid playmaker off the bench for the Thunder.

If the Thunder can get Schröder into the right spots and situations, the pairing could be huge for both.